The conversion of the administrative building on Tübingen’s Schellingstrasse, originally built in 1907, serves as a prime example of how to transform a historic building fabric with consideration and reverence. Our studio accomplished a balancing act between a military building, the requirements for a place of jurisdiction and the preservation of a historical monument. The probate and protection court moved into this state-owned building in 2021.
The fabric of this high-quality reinforced concrete frame construction had been severely damaged due to its former uses as a laundry and a vehicle depot. Replacement of the ceiling above the ground floor entailed extensive structural support measures among other things.

The district court offers unassisted accessibility via two archways. The garage doors at the rear were opened up to allow light into the courtrooms. As a tribute to the wooden doors, the glass panes are set back, creating a play of reflections and lending the façade a dynamic appearance. Unostentatious in its design, the spacious foyer reflects the dignity of the court. The appearance and style of the dismantled slab and beam ceiling influenced the design of the new reinforced concrete ceiling, which incorporates partially exposed structural elements. The rough-plastered, light grey walls and polished screed flooring combine to create a sense of spatial depth, providing an elegant contrast with the oak furniture in the space. Nine asymmetrical reinforced concrete columns replicate the brittleness of the previous purpose-built structure. The offices for judges, employees and the registries are located on the upper floors. The new elements here utilise the existing spatial qualities while embracing a minimalist aesthetic. The light grey on the walls matches the green grey on the wooden windows with their exposed, rounded reveals.

“Amtsgericht”, the German word for district court, floats above the entrance, indicating a new identity. With its timeless elegance, the lettering creates a perfectly matched synthesis with the architecture as an information carrier and façade ornament.